Contact member



P. MAcGAHAN.

CONTACT MEMBER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.9, 1916.

1,358,765. Patented Nov. 16, 1920.

/3 4 INVENTOR.

Pdug MacGahan.

ATTORNEY PAUL MACGAHAN,

or rrrrsBUnei-r, rnnivsYLvi-ima, ASSIGNOR 'rro WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A GQRPORATIQN OF PENNSYLVANIA.

CONTACT MEMBER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 9, 1916. Serial No. 113,957.

To aZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, PAUL MAGGAHAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny 5 and State of Pennsylvania, have invented anew and useful Improvement in, Contact Members, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to contact members and particularly to non-vibrating contact members for relays and other similar devices.

The object of my invention is to provide a contact member that is so insulated from 15 shocks and jars that the vibration of the device to which it is connected will not be transmitted to its contact piece or button.

It is a well known fact that the armatures of alternating-current relays frequently vibrate due to the alternations of the current and that these vibrations are usually trans mitted to the contact members, thereby causing them to become pitted and burned and sometimes causing the apparatus that is adapted to be controlled by the relays to function improperly. In view of the above, I provide a contact member comprising a supporting arm that is mounted on the shaft of the relay. A contact button is adapted to be disposed in an opening in the supporting arm, and a felt member is adaptedto'so support the contact button out of engagement with the supporting arm that the vibrations of the supporting arm will not be 5 transmitted to the contact button.

Figure l of the accompanying drawings is a view, mainly in perspective but part ally in section, of an eleotro-respons1ve device embodying my invention, Fig. 2 is an eleva- 0 tional view of a contact member embodying my invention, and Fig. 3 is a; view, partlally in plan and partially in section, of the contact member shown in Fig. l of the drawin s.

5 it typical device, in connection with which my invention may be employed, comprises a relay 1 having a magnetizable core memher 2, windings 3 and 4, a disk armature 5 that is mounted on a shaft 6, and a control spring 7. A movable contact member 8 1s mounted on the shaft 6 and is adapted to engage a resiliently-mounted contact member 9.

The contact member 8 comprises a supi porting arm 10 having an enlarged outer portion with an opening 11 therein. A sl1ock-absorbing flexible member 13, constructed of felt or other similar non-vibratory substance, is secured to the enlarged portionof the arm 10 adjacent the opening 11 by rivets. However, it may be secured thereto by sewing or by cementing with equally good results. A contact is secured to the member 13 at a point re moved from the supporting member 10. A flexible conductor let is connected to the button 12 and also to one end of the control spring 7 for the purpose of conducting the current to the contact button 12.

With such a construction, if the armatiire 5 vibrates, because of the alternations of the current that traverses the windings 3 and l, the vibrations of the armature 5 will not be transmitted to the contact button 12 be cause the felt member 13 serves as an insulator to shocks and jars.

I do not limit my invention to the partie ular structure illustrated or to the particular adaptation herein shown, as it may be variously modified within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A contact member comprising a sup porting member havin an opening therein, a dexible felt -meniber disposed in the opening in the supporting member and a conducting member mounted on the felt member out of engagement with the supporting member.

2. A contact device comprising a substantially rigid supporting member having an opening therein, an oscillation absorbing member supported thereby and disposed adjacent the opening in the supporting member, and a conducting member mounted on said absorbing member within the opening in the supportin member.

3. A contact device comprising a supporting member, a contact button, and asuspended felt member connecting the contact button and the supporting member to prevent the transmission of vibrations from the supporting member to the contact button.

4:. A contact device comprising a supporting member, a flexible felt member attached thereto, and a contact member suspended on said felt member to preventthe-transmission of vibrations from the supporting member to the contact member.

Patented Nov. 16 1920. 1

button 12 member, and a contact member suspended-at an intermediate POSItlOIl on sa1d felt mem- 5. A contact device comprising a supporting member a relatively fiat'felt member supported at'its edges by the supporting her in order that the Vibrations of the supporting membershall not be transmitted to said contact member. v 6. A contact device comprlsing a support-.

ing member, a contact button, and a flexible textile fabric suspended from the supportihg member and supporting the contact button. a 3

7. A contact member comprlsmg. a sup-v porting member having an opening therein,

a contact button disposed in the opening and a shock-absorbing felt insul'ater disposed between the supporting member and the cona shock-absorbing felt member disposed between the supporting member and the con tact button and a flexible conducting member for electrlcally (30111190131119; the contact button to the supporting member.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subsoribedmyname this 20th day of July,

PAULBhcGAHAN. 

